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Visiting the unspoiled Mallee and fascinating Wyperfeld National Park is no longer a case of roughing it in the scrub.!

The O'Sullivan family's Pine Plains Lodge, in the middle of the Vast Wyperfeld National Park, is the ideal holiday base for getting away from it all.

The air-conditioned Lodge is on a rise above the station buildings And the O'Sullivan family homes. Visitors are greeted by water Spilling across a stone fountain in front of the pine log building, hand-hewn from natural timbers found on the property.

Inside, polished redgum, buloke, native pine and box have been crafted into modern facilities. A chef could not wish for a better catering kitchen with all crockery, cutlery and utensils at hand. Beside the Lodge is the 'Round Yard,' the best barbecue and picnic shelter in north-west Victoria. The broom-brush shelter has everything for barbecue and campoven cooking, a gas stove and mobile spit, the kitchen sink, tables, seats and even an old bathtub for the coldies.

Inside, just across from the large 20-seat dining table is an open fireplace in the stone chimney. A lounge on the other side of the chimney is the perfect spot to end the day relaxing and storytelling in front of a big log fire.

And the bathroom, yes it's the other side of the 'shearing shed' Doors for everything modern.

Bedroom names reflect Mallee pioneer farming life. 'Trappers' is a family room with a double bed and three-high bunks. In 'Stockmans' and the 'Stables,' you'll snore off in one of the six king-size bunks, while the couple in 'Sand Dunes' will enjoy a luxurious queen-size double bed.

All up, 19 people can be comfortably accommodated.

The self catering Pine Plains Lodge encourages group bookings; a generous weekend package includes arriving Friday afternoon and leaving after Sunday lunch. Ml you need to bring is your food and drinks, your favorite doona or sleeping bag - and don't forget your towel.

And what's at Pine Plains? Historic stables and outbuildings built by our pioneers feature thatched straw roofs and drop logs. There are camels, horses, ostriches, the odd hereford and many four-wheel drive tracks for exploring the mallee vegetation.

There are more than 400 plant species at Wyperfeld, many providing a great spread of wildflowers, especially in spring. Pine Plains is the favored breeding ground for mallee fowl, Major Mitchell cockatoos and eagles. You can see kangaroos, emus and other native fauna on the vast ancient flood plains. And the sand dunes are a popular attraction.

The O'Sullivans will make sure you discover the secrets of the mallee. They want you to get the most from your Pine Plains holiday. They'll explain the history and make mud maps to show you the way. They Also arrange guided tours for group bookings.

Pine Plains is an unforgettable experience. Come and share in Glorious sunrises, lovely days and lingering sunsets, clear night skies with stars so close you can almost touch them; where heritage and culture all combine to create that magic feeling of the outback.